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Noise Task Force Begins Meetings

Posted By Kate Washington on October 26, 2015

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Pearl News

Following up the Portland City Council adoption of minimal changes to the pile driving noise ordinance in July, Commissioner Amanda Fritz has created a noise task force to review possible additional revisions. Under discussion are: a city wide prohibition of impact hammer pile driving; details of the variance, appeal and notification process; and zoning designations wherein current ”EX” industrial zones could be changed to commercial.

A change to commercial zoning in neighborhoods that have become more residential, such as the Pearl District, would reduce allowable decibel levels. This change would permit the City’s Noise Control Officer greater flexibility to enforce loud noises that are harmful to residents, but cannot be enforced under the current law.

Advocates for change have cited information that the noise and vibration of impact hammer pile driving is harmful to people’s health. They further added that innovative techniques such as the significantly quieter auger cast method is an acceptable alternative. Advocates further urge the total prohibition of impact hammer pile driving except in engineer certified situations where an alternative method would not be viable for geotechnical reasons.

The nine member citizen task force has met two times with three more meetings to follow. Commissioner Fritz is expected to bring recommendation to City Council on November 12.
Additional information can be found at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/68392

Author: Kate Washington

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Posted By Kate Washingtonon November 1, 2011

ByLanaiHoyt,
Pearl District Neighborhood Association Livability and Communications Committee
Back in June, if you were to find yourself wandering around the area of NW 13th and Quimby you would have noticed a lot of broken glass, garbage, and graffiti, worsening at a daily rate. But then Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) and Graffiti Busters got involved, and things have improved dramatically in just 4 short months.
The PDNA is a wonderful thing we’ve got going here in the Pearl and the Pearl is a great place to live. This October, at Irving Street Kitchen, we had our annual meeting, elected board members, reported on this year’s events as well as presenting goals for 2012. Jan Valentine stated, “The Livability Committee exceeded all their goals for 2011.” Our Emergency Preparedness Planning Workshop was very well attended and Polish the Pearl brought out approximately 100 volunteers, including Graffiti Busters. Each Polish the Pearl event we have had since the outset has had a greater number of volunteers.
One of our Pearl District neighbors, Bill Frowine, mentioned, “As someone who has a dog, it is nice that the PDNA has added additional trashcans and pet stations that help make our neighborhood cleaner, with less ‘land mines’.”
The Livability Committee’s goals for next year include more emergency preparedness planning, as well as partnering with PHLUSH and PNCA Collaborative Design Studio for emergency sanitation preparedness. The PDNA Communications Committee has some new members, some new ideas, and the website is being re-vamped and connected to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

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The Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) is one of Portland's 95 Neighborhood Associations. We are volunteers who live, work, or own property in the Pearl District. We work together to keep the neighborhood clean, safe, and fun.